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Logan Roots entered this year鈥檚 Yukon River Trail Marathon with three goals on his mind.

The 22-year-old accomplished them all en route to his third title in four years, completing the 42.2-kilometre course in 2:59:16.

鈥淚 had three goals today,鈥� he told the Star post-race. 鈥淣umber one was getting under that three-hour mark. ... I also wanted to have enough in the tank in case Dave (Eikelboom) caught up to me so I could outkick him in the last two km.

鈥淭he third one was make sure I鈥檓 running every time I passed a reporter with a camera. I think I鈥坉id all three of those things, and the race just unfolded perfectly.鈥�

Last year, Roots finished the course 鈥� then two kilometres shorter 鈥� in 2:50:49.

The usual shorter-distance speedster averaged 14.12 km/h this year on the route that included an extra out-and-back near Chadburn Lake to make it a true marathon.

The trail marathon is the only full-distance run Roots has ever competed in and he has finished in the winner鈥檚 circle each time he has entered.

鈥淚鈥檓 happy to win,鈥� he said, noting the trail was in excellent shape despite heavy downpours a day earlier.

鈥淚鈥坙ike this one because my house is in Riverdale and I know every single metre of this entire course.鈥�

Can鈥檛-miss Carcross endurance runner Denise McHale won the women鈥檚 marathon title in 3:41:50 but was unavailable for comment post-race.

Former race champion David Eikelboom finished second to Roots in 3:02:23. The duo was light years ahead of the competition, with Sam Herreid of Fairbanks coming in third at 3:26:31 and fourth-place male Scott Williams crossing the finish line at 3:48:13.

鈥淭his was my quickest trail marathon yet,鈥� said Eikelboom, 28, adding he truly enjoyed the experience.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a race like no other. It鈥檚 42 gruelling kilometres with beautiful views. It鈥檚 close to home, there鈥檚 lots of volunteers and I know them all by name.鈥�

The picturesque route began at Rotary Peace Park and weaved its way along the Yukon River and Schwatka Lake, before finishing back at the park.

Chadden Lake and Hidden Lakes were featured along the course, which highlights the capital city鈥檚 spectacular single-track trail system.

The marathon was the 606th 42.2-km race completed by 61-year-old David Lewis of London, while fellow Brit Carla Hayes, 51, ran her 210th full-distance event.

鈥淭his is a fantastic race,鈥� said Lewis, who noted he鈥檚 competed around the world. 鈥淚t鈥檚 tough, relentless, gruelling.鈥�

鈥淭his is the hardest one that I鈥檝e completed in Canada,鈥� added Hayes, who has run marathons in every Canadian jurisdiction except British Columbia.

In the half marathon, Jonathan Zaugg and national team runner Lindsay Carson took home victories.

Zaugg, 28, finished the 21-km course in 1:33:28 while Carson, 25, hit the finish line in 1:37:33.

鈥淚 enjoy getting out on the trails,鈥� said Zaugg. 鈥淚鈥坱hought I could鈥檝e run it a little bit faster, but I鈥檓 still happy. Last year I鈥坉id a 1:37:05.

鈥淚鈥檓 not going to lie, it鈥檚 pretty nice to win, but it鈥檚 more about just getting out and running with other people.鈥�

The Swiss-born runner said he ran competitively in high school but took a long hiatus before finally lacing up his sneakers again a few years ago.

Carson took the women鈥檚 crown for the third straight year.

鈥淓ach year has definitely not gotten easier for me,鈥� said Carson, who noted this was her slowest win yet. 鈥淚鈥檝e had a long track season and I need some down time now.

鈥淢y typical distance is usually 10-km or five-km, so I鈥坱reat this as a good training run, a strength-based effort.鈥�

Many chose to run the race as a relay, splitting up the four legs.

A three-member team, known as 鈥淪hier and Stappers on the run鈥� took the 33-team category win in 4:03:55.

Team members included Daniel Shier, who ran the first two legs, Helen Stappers and Hannah Shier.

In the 21-km walking category, local competitor Philip Gibson and Julie Jae of Toronto claimed victories.

For full results from all categories, visit www.yukonmarathon.com.